Even More Amazing Live

Romans 5 says Christ died for us while we were still sinners. We made no move. We held no stock. We were owed no favors. Simply grace motivating God.

We also read that if we were saved by Christ's death, much more shall we be saved by His life.

Amazing Love, Part 1

Romans 5:8 says that God demonstrates His own love for us in this: that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. That is some crazy amazing love. Dying for sinners while totally righteous. Doesn't get more deep, mysterious or simple than that.

How shall we then live? No longer for ourselves but for Him who died and rose again on our behalf. We needed a Champion, God provided one. We needed forgiveness, God gave it. We needed a rescue, God sent His Son to redeem us from the curse by becoming a curse for us.

That is some super amazing love.

Forgiveness is the Anti-Revenge

Forgiveness looks backwards and heals the past. Trust looks to the future. It takes time to rebuild. Forgiveness is the amazing restorer. Revenge is anti-forgiveness. Revenge is gouging out their eyes. Revenge is gouging your tires or keying your car. Forgiveness is like a magic eraser. Forgiveness is buying someone a new car. Revenge is like putting salt in a wound. Forgiveness is like a bandaid with Neosporin. Restore-a-finish is an all-in-one product containing several helpful things. Forgiveness is an all-in-one that contains mercy, grace and love. Forgive from the bottom of your heart. It is the Anti-Revenge. Forgiveness does everyone good.

Idolatry always Leads to Dishonor

Idolatry is anti-Jesus. We are to guard ourselves from the idol of idolatry. We must resolve to stay away with ever fiber of our being or we get sucked in to the trap. Fools gold glitters and then takes down it's victims. Idolatry is deceptive. Jesus frees the seeking heart from the web of arrogant boasts. Take ever thought, desire and motive captive to obedience to Christ.

Fake it til you Make it...Imitating Christ

No one likes a fake. Cheap imitations parade as the real thing. Imitation cheese is especially distasteful and repugnant to me. But we are to imitate Christ. A far different calling. A noble endeavor. Copy Christ. He is the real deal.

How Shall We Escape?

How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? (Heb. 2:3)

Who is the Greatest

Matthew 18 begins with a question. The disciples ask "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" Interestingly Jeaus doesn't exactly tell them. Instead He sets a child before them and tells them they need to change. They must be changed or else. Conversion saves the soul focused on Christ. Jesus is the greatest in His kingdom.

Unlimited Forgiveness

Jesus really expects a lot. He gives all, He asks all. His forgiveness of believers is unlimited, so their forgiveness must be as well.

It's a high calling. It is impossible outside of Christ. In Christ all things are possible. We who have had our penalty removed in mercy and forgiveness granted by grace are enabled and empowered to show mercy and be gracious. We love because He first loved us. We can forgive because He first forgave, and continues to forgive, us.

When we came to faith in Christ an immeasurably great debt was released in our favor for God's glory. It is our privilege to now mirror that same glory as we forgive far lesser offenses.

Choose your Poison

It has been said that the human heart is an idol factory. We can take anything, anyone, anytime, and make it or them the object of our affections rather than fix our minds on the Lord Jesus Christ. Oh to have my heart fixed on Christ!

Always in Search of a Scapegoat

Everyone wants someone to blame. We always seem to be looking for a scapegoat. Jesus took our blame. The perfect scapegoat.

Find Your Deepest Joy

Find your deepest joy in something or someone other than Jesus and you will have your heart broken by false suitors that pretend to have your best interests at heart but really want to destroy you. Stand your ground against all attacks of the enemy of your soul. Let the fool's gold wash down the drain with the other refuse of a thousand idolatries. Love Jesus and cling to Him. Find your deepest joy in Jesus and live.

Church Discipline

What do you think of when you hear the phrase “Church Discipline”? Angry Christians throwing stones or loving friends rescuing the wandering?

I wish “Church Discipline” was known by another name, like “Normal Everyday Christianity” or “Believers behaving biblically” or “the restoration process”.
It is humbling to think that if Christians behaved biblically, steps 2-4 of the process as outlined in Matthew 18 would seldom be needed.

There is a step before step one though. I call it Spirit-led loving forbearance. It is the most self-forgetting step; choosing to endure the pain and forgive the offense, leaving things completely in God's hands.

The Glory of God

The key of God is who He is and what He has independent of all things. God's glory is who He is. He is full of glory. He has, in Himdrlf, all glory.

Jesus Cares for His Sheep

The Scriptures tell us Jesus is our Shepherd and we are His sheep. As our Shepherd how does Jesus care for us? How interested and intimately acquainted is He with our lives? Does He care about more than our salvation and eternal destiny? Is He interested in the 'little things' too? To explore "The Shepherd's Care" see Ezekiel 34, Psalm 23, John 10, 1 Peter 5 and Matthew 18:12-14.

Jesus Cares for You

"Cast all your cares on Him, for He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7

Maybe you haven't given it too much thought. God cares for you. He cares about what happens to you. He cares about where you will spend eternity and who you will have lunch with tomorrow. His eye is on the sparrow and His eye is on you. Simple truth that comforts the soul. 

We live in a world that is confused and over-complicated by humans trying their best to keep things together. The best news ever is that Jesus holds all things together and will "reconcile all things to Himself, making peace through the blood of His cross" (Col. 1:20).

At the end of the day, what really makes life full is knowing our sovereign God cares and Jesus loves you!

Stumbling Blocks

It is easy to stumble and fall. As a child I collided with my sister once trying to run out the same patio door. We stumbled and went flying, she into a tree, my nose into the corner edge of a redwood picnic table.

It is easy to trip and fall in sin as well. Whether you trip alone or with the help of another, the results are never pretty. Jesus says don't be the one to lead a child of God into sin. There are consequences and the stakes are high.

What is a stumbling block? Why do we trip over them? How can we guard against them? A few of the questions we should want to explore as we look for the answers in God's Word. I suggest taking a close look at Matthew 18:7-11 and Romans 14.